Having seen how easily the Libertarian Party organized itself in Norwich

RAY HACKETT

Having seen how easily the Libertarian Party organized itself in Norwich, secured a ballot spot in this year’s mayoral race, and is now recruiting possible City Council candidates, several Green Party members are hoping they can do the same.
Linda Lancz of Norwich, who was recently elected one of three state Green Party co-chairman, and Scott Deshefy of Lebanon, the party’s 2nd Congressional District candidate in 2008 and 2010, are organizing a Norwich chapter with the hope of possibly recruiting a mayoral candidate and a slate of council candidates.
Granted, both organizations have a long way to go before becoming a force to be reckoned with, but on the plus side, party politics means little — nothing really — in municipal elections. Local elections are about the individuals running for office more than a political philosophy.
Local elections are beauty contests where being voted most popular and well-liked can make you mayor. And when you consider that the average voter turnout in Norwich’s mayoral-elections is a pitiful 27 percent, you didn’t even need to be that well-liked to win.
How sad, but true.
And therein lies the real problem. It doesn’t matter which candidate is elected mayor. If voters don’t participate, there will be no change in the way things are done. Another miserable turnout at the polls, and the status quo not only survives, it thrives.
Norwich voters will have a choice on the ballot this year in deciding who they want to “lead” the city for the next four years — but only if they embrace this opportunity to act.
This year’s mayoral election is not about which candidate can bring about real change — because none of them can. It’s about people demanding change. It’s about voters turning out in large numbers and delivering to one candidate a mandate — an overwhelming victory that empowers that one individual to challenge the status quo, and those who wish to maintain it.
The next mayor needs to walk into the City Council chambers on that first Monday in December and announce that the people have spoken, and the message they’ve sent is: Business as usual is over as of tonight.
But try doing that with only a 27 percent turnout at the polls, and the other six aldermen and women — each of whom has the exact same power and authority as the mayor — will likely hurt themselves laughing so hard.
It’s not the people in government that is the problem, it’s the structure of the government. The city’s government is structured in such a way that no one person can make a difference. In fact, Norwich’s government is purposely designed to prevent anyone from acting, and thus it avoids having anyone held accountable when nothing happens.
And there are too many egos and little fiefdoms determined to see to it that that doesn’t change.
The only way things will change is if voters, not the candidates, demand it.
Ray Hackett is The Bulletin’s editorial page editor. He has more than 25 years covering Connecticut politics. He can be reached at (860) 425-4225 or rhackett@norwichbulletin.com.